"When the quake struck at 4:53 P.M. on January 12th, Signal FM was playing 'Hotel California.' The earth groaned and the building shuddered. But just before the DJ ran out, he had the presence of mind to hit the 'repeat' button. So for the first 30 minutes of Port-au-Prince's descent into hell, the only thing you could hear on the radio was the Eagles standard - over and over and over." (21) Every Satanist and most witches know full well that "Hotel California" is another name for the church of Satan. The song describes very clearly the captivating of the soul by Satanism. It even contains a verse describing human sacrifice, stating that the participants "stabbed him with their steely knives but could not kill the beast." It also describes the onlooker running for the door, where he was met by the "night man" who told him, "….we are programmed to receive, you can check out any time you want but you can never leave." It is quite amazing that this song so compatible with voodoo was the only thing playing as judgment was falling upon that pagan land. This is too appropriate to be coincidental.

Don Henley, as quoted in the London Daily Mail (November 9, 2007):"Some of the wilder interpretations of that song have been amazing. It was really about the excesses of American culture and certain girls we knew. But it was also about the uneasy balance between art and commerce."

I also wanted to add this little nugget per songfacts.com: The line "They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" is a reference to Steely Dan. The bands shared the same manager and had a friendly rivalry. The year before, Steely Dan included the line "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening" on their song "Everything You Did."

I always thought the song was about someone who dies in a car crash. "Dark desert highway...saw a shimmering light/head grew heavy and my sight grew dim" "This could be heaven or... hell" "...you can never leave"

Then there was Chile, followed by Turkey. Given God's notoriously poor aim, this is a clear indication that God is pissed off at Upper Graustark, the Grand Duchy of Durr, and certain parts of New Jersey.

When I returned to my what used to be a house after a hurricane, there was a Beatles album laying in the middle of the yard. It was "Help". I guess that too was "too appropriate to be coincidental". But then again....why wasnt a babble sitting in the front yard? And yet, then again.....was gawd punishing me with a hurricane for my sins? The fantasy illusions can go on forever.

Seriously, man. That song isnt about evil, occultism, or the devil! Its about ghosts in a haunted old hotel in which the guy happened to be suckered into staying the night at. And this is why he says you can check in but can never leave. The ghosts wanted to turn him into one of them. Once again. NOTHING TO DO WITH SATAN. Get off your high horse. I know music better than you do obviously. And thats just sad. I bet jesus loves music. And the eagles. And your a blasphemer. HAHAHAHA

Every Satanist and most witches know full well that "Hotel California" is another name for the church of Satan.

Well, there's actually no such thing as witches but can any satanist confirm what I already suspect: that this guy is full of shit?

The song describes very clearly the captivating of the soul by Satanism.

No, like most art, the meaning is carefully hidden behind metaphor and isn't clear at all. In fact, before Mortician provided the explanation from the artist himself I had no idea that the song was about American culture and commerce. What IS clear is that fundies think they know everyone else's motives even though they're just making shit up.

It even contains a verse describing human sacrifice, stating that the participants "stabbed him with their steely knives but could not kill the beast."

Okay, even if we buy your ridiculous assertion that this is about Satanism, wouldn't this more likely be about how powerful Satan is? You know "just can't kill the beast". However, I doubt your entire interpretation so this is a moot point.

It also describes the onlooker running for the door, where he was met by the "night man" who told him, "….we are programmed to receive, you can check out any time you want but you can never leave."

And this has exactly what to do with Satanism? I'd say it's a far better description of fundamentalist Christianity.

It is quite amazing that this song so compatible with voodoo

Voodoo? I thought you said it was about Satanism? Oh wait, I forgot. If it's not your denomination of Christianity it must be Satanism, right?

was the only thing playing as judgment was falling upon that pagan land

Yes, Haiti is a Pagan land just like Russia is a Jewish land. Meanwhile, here in Realityland, we know that Haiti is mostly Catholic and thus cannot be called a Pagan land by any stretch of the imagination. Just because they're not burning Pagans at the stake doesn't mean their land is run by them. Just like how straight people can support gay rights and not secretly be gay.

This is too appropriate to be coincidental

Well, as we've all demonstrated here, it's not appropriate so there is no coincidence; well, maybe that both the DJ and I like Hotel California.